This year’s rescheduled Alpine Group Juan de Fuca Fishing Tournament is rapidly approaching so, if you’re not in the derby yet, now is a great time to get your hands on tickets. The fishing derby is on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August and will be headquartered at Pedder Bay RV Resort and Marina in Metchosin as before. There is a huge list of prizes, with the winning entry taking home $20,000. Go to http://jdfderby.ca/for details.

Visit our facebook page to see reports, news and videos by our guides and staff from their most recent trips.

Happy boys at Port Renfrew

SOOKE – The salmon fishing was BETTER this past week. Sherringham Point, Muir Creek, Otter Point, Possession Point and Secretary Island all produced salmon. There were some big springs in the 20’s and 30’s caught but still not large numbers of big fish. There was a good abundance of “teenagers” though. Anchovies are now the top choice for bait and good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. The top spoons for Sooke anglers are the White Lightening and Irish Cream Coho Killers, trolled behind a Super Betsey, Madi or Bon Chovi Flasher. Hootchies in Cop Car, Purple haze and White have been effective in the past month.

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was UP & DOWN this past week, but a little better than the week before. There was a 37 lb spring caught off Beechey Head and a couple of other fish in the mid 30’s caught but not very many. Most of the fish have been in the mid to high teens and low twenties. The Trap Shack, Beechey Head and Aldridge Point were the most productive locations to fish. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working well. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours were also effective. For flashers, the Betsey, Lemon Lime and Bon Chovi have been good.

PEDDER BAY –Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week. There were some days when it really was good but not so good on others. Most of the fish being caught are springs but some respectable hatchery coho were also caught, mostly by angers targeting the coho. The entrance of Pedder Bay was as good as anywhere in the area. Anchovies also caught fish, but not as many as the ones taken jigging. Good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Flashers that are popular include the Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Madi.

Jordayn Dornblut (center) with her big halibut.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend. Jordyn Dornblut was fishing the Race Rocks area on Saturday when she hooked and landed a 133 cm long, 76.4 lb halibut. She got the big fish on a hoochie & herring combination while fishing in 300 feet of water. Jordyn is only 18 years old and takes over first spot on our halibut leader board. Seeing it was so close to maximum size it was measured by multiple people to verify its length. The best areas were Race Rocks, William Head, 27 Fathom reef and Constance Bank. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use Mudraker, Lucky or 9” Jumbo Squids if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SLOW considering the numbers of boats. There were some nice springs as large as 30 lbs caught but not very many. There were, however, a ton of” shakers” caught and released. These were juvenile chinooks. An unusual catch was a 13 lb hatchery coho that was caught off Macauley Point on Saturday. The best fishing was in the early to mid week and in the afternoons and evenings. Anchovies have been a good bait to use and Bloody Nose and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Spoons have been successful in getting hook ups as well. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers or 4” cop Car spoons trolling behind a Moon Jelly flasher has also brought results in Victoria.. Red/Glow Hot Spot flashers have also been good to use.

The Clover Point Anglers’ Association held their 22nd Annual Salmon Derby on the weekend. The winner was Tom Celuzak who caught a 21 lb 7 oz white spring near the V21 buoy Saturday Morning. Second place went to Bruce Cowan with an 11 lb 2 oz spring and third went to Lance Foreman for a 9 lb 8 oz spring.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week with the best areas remaining being East Constance Bank, Border Bank and the Mud Hole. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well, and discouraging to dogfish, was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was SLOW but improved this past weekend. There were some fish into the teens caught, just not too many of them. The best limit catch that we heard of was on an AP Tackleworks needlefish spoon.. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons and. Anglers jigging have been using Needlefish Darts or Deep.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD early this past week. However, most anglers that were fishing for halibut were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow. Also working well, and discouraging to dogfish, was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow.

SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was SLOW but a little better this past week. The Pender Bluffs produced a couple of springs up to 12-14 lbs. There were fish in the Sidney Spit area as well. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons were successful. Anglers jigging have also been catching springs and are using Needlefish Darts and Deep Stingers. The Powder Wharf and Shag Rocks area are popular for jigging salmon.

Effective July 25, 2016 at 00:01 hours until October 14, 2016 at 23:59 hours, you may not retain Chinook salmon in the following waters: Subareas 18-6 to 18-8, 18-10.

Notable Catches – Jordyn Dornblut was fishing the Race Rocks area on Saturday when she hooked and landed a 133 cm long, 76.4 lb halibut. She got the big fish on a hoochie & herring combination while fishing in 300 feet of water. Jordyn is only 18 years old and takes over first spot on our halibut leader board. The Clover Point Anglers’ Association held their 22nd Annual Salmon Derby on the weekend. The winner was Tom Celuzak who caught a 21 lb 7 oz white spring near the V21 buoy Saturday Morning. Second place went to Bruce Cowan with an 11 lb 2 oz spring and third went to Lance Foreman for a 9 lb 8 oz spring.

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Fishing is GOOD in most lakes for both trout and bass. All streams within Management Units 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6, except the Big Qualicum River, the Puntledge River and the Quinsam River are closed to fishing until further notice.

A happy angler shows off her catch at the Elk Lake fishing dock

TROUT – Troutfishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing close to the bottom. Chartreuse and Fluorescent Yellow have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers are catching trout with Gibbs Gang Trolls and Gibbs Wedding Bands. 2” Tomic Plugs have also been working well for Trout.

BASS - Bass fishing is EXCELLENT. At this time of year most of the bass are in the shallows. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style” are also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks. The most productive colors in 4” Yum baits are Smoke or Pumpkinseed. Langford Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake and Elk and Beaver Lakes are the best local bass lakes. St. Mary’s Lake on Salt Spring Island is also a great lake for bass fishing.

Graeme Henderson caught this nice bass from the shore at Saint Mary's Lake

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

When you see birds working a ball up, don’t troll through the ball up and the birds. Feeding salmon are mostly outside of the ball up looking for the crippled bait fish that are falling away with the tide or swimming away from the ball up. You should fish to the side and below the bait and not disturb the birds that are on the top.

Island Outfittersstarts and ends the year with the free for fun and prizesSalmon, Trout and Halibut Leader Boards. Simply weigh your catch in at Island Outfitters and the top five fish in each category on December 31st wins a special prize.

See our event pages for details on upcoming events and like us on facebook!